In 1964, four remarkable young women at a prestigious university became the subjects of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist. On the cusp of a historic breakthrough, the women mysteriously vanished and the program was erased from history.
Decades later, Riley Bell, newly divorced and desperate for a fresh start, accepts a caretaker job for an elderly widow named Betty. Riley steps into a home that is frozen in another era – no microwave, television, or cell phones, and Betty has never heard of the internet.
Why has Betty lived in such profound isolation for so many years, and why does she need Riley now? As the story unfolds across two timelines – Betty’s 1960s era of 5 o’clock martinis and high-stakes experiments, and Riley’s quest to uncover the truth about the missing women – old secrets rise to the surface. And the only way to survive is to confront the mystery that has lingered for sixty years.
This book is so different from Sarah’s other thrillers that I’ve read, and it’s one of her most original. It’s a dual-timeline psychological thriller with 1960s nostalgia and parapsychology (psychic) elements. If you haven’t read her books before, the writing here really showcases her talent for creating compelling characters and structuring a mystery. I also loved how this isn’t just a thriller—it’s more of a story about female friendship, found family, and bonding through shared trauma, and the 1960s historical timeline felt very authentic.
The story is told in a multi-POV, dual-timeline, following Riley in the present day and the POVs of Betty, Kathleen, Ivy, and Helen in 1964—the women on whom the experiments were conducted. The story begins with Riley accepting a caregiver job at Betty’s home, but it quickly becomes clear that Betty’s more interested in finding answers about her long-lost friends than receiving assistance. Once Betty asks Riley to track down those friends, the mystery begins. In the 1964 timeline, the four women are test subjects for Dr. Trimble’s parapsychology experiments, and each of them possesses psychic abilities. As the experiments become increasingly invasive and unethical, the women find themselves trapped between society’s (and their husbands’) expectations and Dr. Trimble’s pursuit of scientific advancement.
I felt so many emotions—and a LOT of anger—reading about how Dr. Trimble exploited their gifts and treated them like guinea pigs without a second thought. The story really shines a light on how limited women’s choices were back then and how easily authority figures could abuse their power. It’s very thought-provoking and is perfect for a book club discussion! Meanwhile, in the present day, Riley discovers unsettling truths that put her and Betty at risk, and what follows is a race-against-time investigation to uncover what really happened to Betty’s friends.
The short chapters, often ending on cliffhangers, make this a very addictive read. For the first 40%, you may wonder if this book is actually a thriller, but rest assured that the suspense really escalates in the second half with some good twists. Unfortunately, the major reveal feels like it comes out of left field, as though it was intentionally designed to shock the reader more than anything else. The final chapters quickly tie up loose threads and deliver some bittersweet and poignant moments that are memorable. Afterwards, I found myself thinking about these women and everything they endured. If you love stories like that, definitely add this one to your list!
Narrator Performance
The Women in White is narrated by award-winning narrator Saskia Maarleveld. She gives protagonist Riley Bell a warm, relatable voice that suits a woman who’s trying to rebuild her life after a bad divorce. As Riley begins her new caregiver job for eighty-one-year-old Betty, Maarleveld’s delivery emphasizes Riley’s desire to help and her uncertainty about the unusual circumstances. When Betty asks Riley to locate three women she hasn’t seen since the 1960s, she effectively conveys Riley’s curiosity and determination to find these women, making her amateur sleuthing journey very immersive.
A major highlight of the performance is how the evolving relationship between Riley and Betty is conveyed. As their connection develops through opening up to each other and their shared investigation, Maarleveld adds increasing warmth and a sense of mutual understanding to their interactions—creating something that feels like a mother-daughter bond.
The two timelines are vastly different, and Maarleveld does a great job shifting her tone and cadence to make them feel authentic. In the 1964 timeline, where the POVs shift between Betty, Kathleen, Ivy, and Helen—the four women participating in Dr. Trimble’s controversial experiments—Maarleveld gives each woman a distinct voice and authentic personality that feels true to the era. She makes their initial excitement about participating in the research palpable, and as the experiments become increasingly intrusive, their growing discomfort is just as evident. You’ll really feel for these women and become angry at what they endure. The friendship, sisterhood, and shared trauma between Betty, Kathleen, Ivy, and Helen are strongly emphasized in Maarleveld’s delivery, particularly during the increasingly intense experiments later on.
Despite Maarleveld’s strong portrayals, the book shifts timelines and POVs so often that some listeners may occasionally find it difficult to follow everything. For that reason, I recommend pairing the audiobook with a physical copy for the most immersive reading experience. The final scenes between Riley and Betty are some of the most powerful—and where Maarleveld’s performance truly shines—and you’ll be thinking about these characters long after the story ends!
Narrator Performance
The Women in White is narrated by award-winning narrator Saskia Maarleveld. She gives protagonist Riley Bell a warm, relatable voice that suits a woman who’s trying to rebuild her life after a bad divorce. As Riley begins her new caregiver job for eighty-one-year-old Betty, Maarleveld’s delivery emphasizes Riley’s desire to help and her uncertainty about the unusual circumstances. When Betty asks Riley to locate three women she hasn’t seen since the 1960s, she effectively conveys Riley’s curiosity and determination to find these women, making her amateur sleuthing journey very immersive.
A major highlight of the performance is how the evolving relationship between Riley and Betty is conveyed. As their connection develops through opening up to each other and their shared investigation, Maarleveld adds increasing warmth and a sense of mutual understanding to their interactions—creating something that feels like a mother-daughter bond.
The two timelines are vastly different, and Maarleveld does a great job shifting her tone and cadence to make them feel authentic. In the 1964 timeline, where the POVs shift between Betty, Kathleen, Ivy, and Helen—the four women participating in Dr. Trimble’s controversial experiments—Maarleveld gives each woman a distinct voice and authentic personality that feels true to the era. She makes their initial excitement about participating in the research palpable, and as the experiments become increasingly intrusive, their growing discomfort is just as evident. You’ll really feel for these women and become angry at what they endure. The friendship, sisterhood, and shared trauma between Betty, Kathleen, Ivy, and Helen are strongly emphasized in Maarleveld’s delivery, particularly during the increasingly intense experiments later on.
Despite Maarleveld’s strong portrayals, the book shifts timelines and POVs so often that some listeners may occasionally find it difficult to follow everything. For that reason, I recommend pairing the audiobook with a physical copy for the most immersive reading experience. The final scenes between Riley and Betty are some of the most powerful—and where Maarleveld’s performance truly shines—and you’ll be thinking about these characters long after the story ends!
The Women in White is narrated by award-winning narrator Saskia Maarleveld. She gives protagonist Riley Bell a warm, relatable voice that suits a woman who’s trying to rebuild her life after a bad divorce. As Riley begins her new caregiver job for eighty-one-year-old Betty, Maarleveld’s delivery emphasizes Riley’s desire to help and her uncertainty about the unusual circumstances. When Betty asks Riley to locate three women she hasn’t seen since the 1960s, she effectively conveys Riley’s curiosity and determination to find these women, making her amateur sleuthing journey very immersive.
A major highlight of the performance is how the evolving relationship between Riley and Betty is conveyed. As their connection develops through opening up to each other and their shared investigation, Maarleveld adds increasing warmth and a sense of mutual understanding to their interactions—creating something that feels like a mother-daughter bond.
The two timelines are vastly different, and Maarleveld does a great job shifting her tone and cadence to make them feel authentic. In the 1964 timeline, where the POVs shift between Betty, Kathleen, Ivy, and Helen—the four women participating in Dr. Trimble’s controversial experiments—Maarleveld gives each woman a distinct voice and authentic personality that feels true to the era. She makes their initial excitement about participating in the research palpable, and as the experiments become increasingly intrusive, their growing discomfort is just as evident. You’ll really feel for these women and become angry at what they endure. The friendship, sisterhood, and shared trauma between Betty, Kathleen, Ivy, and Helen are strongly emphasized in Maarleveld’s delivery, particularly during the increasingly intense experiments later on.
Despite Maarleveld’s strong portrayals, the book shifts timelines and POVs so often that some listeners may occasionally find it difficult to follow everything. For that reason, I recommend pairing the audiobook with a physical copy for the most immersive reading experience. The final scenes between Riley and Betty are some of the most powerful—and where Maarleveld’s performance truly shines—and you’ll be thinking about these characters long after the story ends!
